HAPPY SIVARATRI (on Saturday, 1-3-2003)

February 28, 2003

This is the gist of all worship - to be pure and to do

good to others. He who sees Siva in the poor, in the

weak, and in the diseased, really worships Siva; and

if he sees Siva only in the image, his worship is

but preliminary.

After so much austerity, I have understood this as the

real truth - God is present in every jiva. Who serves

jiva, serves Siva indeed.

Selfishness is the chief sin, thinking of ourselves

first. He who thinks, 'I will eat first, I will have

more money than others, and I will possess

everything', he who thinks, 'I will get to heaven

before others, I will get mukti before others', is the

selfish man. The unselfish man says, 'I will even go

to hell, if by doing so I can help my brothers'. This

unselfishness is the test of religion. He who has

more of this unselfishness is more spiritual and

nearer to Siva.

- Swami Vivekananda

(Taken from ''Vivekananda His Call To The Nation'

published by Advaita Ashrama, Calcutta, India.)

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